Digital Sculptures: Origins Molecular Symphony

Above: Short-version video showing sculpture X815 depicting the molecular interactions in spirit sample 815 (Whisky) from France. The interacting elements represent two dimensions of molecules: their chemical classification (shown as colour) and their molecular weight (depicted as the various shapes driving the sculpture)

Origins: Making smell visible

Origins is a collection of digital sculptures that make scent visible, bridging advanced science and innovative digital art. This work is a metaphor for the life surrounding us, suggesting that everything possesses a beautiful, hidden dimension waiting to be discovered.

This project combines deep scientific rigor with pioneering artistic techniques:

• Scientific Foundation: Origins is supported by the largest private Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) study ever conducted on spirits. We analyzed over 830 liquid samples (primarily whisky, "the water of life"), generating more than 65,000 lines of molecular data. This far surpasses previous academic research of this kind.

• Artistic Novelty: For the first time, the complexity and beauty of organic chemistry has been rendered through 3D modeling in various software packages. The resulting scent-enhanced sculptures visualize complex molecular interactions in a simple and striking way.

• A Multisensory Experience: To fully immerse the viewer, every sculpture is accompanied by nanotechnology scent cards, allowing you to physically smell the molecules displayed on the screen.

The two-year creation of 'Origins' was driven by a single purpose: to visualize the complex molecular symphony of our liquids and food. The name refers to these molecular building blocks from around the world.

• The Core Question: Where do flavor, aroma & scent truly come from, and what are their building blocks?
• The Invitation: We invite people to pause, reflect, and marvel at the hidden dimension present in the things we consume.

The 'Origins' project is operating at a frontier domain with major societal relevance. The digitization of scent is a pioneering area, highlighted by the World Economic Forum for its potential to positively transform society.

By better understanding the molecules in our environment—food, beverages, and air—we can:

• Enhance disease detection.
• Improve transparency in food supply chains.
• Educate people about healthy eating.
• Bolster public safety.
• ...

Origins offers an artistic perspective on the digitization of scent.

Contributors:

Scent cards: Sissel Tolaas

3D Modeling & animation: Eric Garcia (Luxmotion)

GC-MS data generation: Rodolphe de Hemptinne